NBC’s Craig Robinson Comedy Pilot From Creators Of ‘The Office’ Is Still Alive

NBC's Craig Robinson Comedy Pilot From Creators Of 'The Office' Is Still Alive

In May, when NBC released its official fall schedule lineup, it looked like Craig Robinson’s comedy series, from creators of The Office, was dead.

Skip ahead to today, to news that the series actually could see the light of day, as NBC has reportedly ordered 3 additional scripts for the untitled series, and extended its options on the entire cast, which includes Amandla Stenberg and Larenz Tate.

First announced as a possibility last fall, NBC gave a pilot order to a new comedy series from The Officeexecutive producer Greg Daniels, penned by Owen Ellickson (supervising producer for The Office), and starring funnyman/actor Craig Robinson.

The project was to follow a talented musician (played by Robinson) with rough edges, who adjusts to his new life as a music teacher in a big-city middle school, where he encounters teacher politics and the temptations of single moms.

Tate was to play Craig’s character’s brother and partner in the duo’s band called The Filthy Gentleman, further described as a charismatic lady-killer who has never held a regular job, thanks to his musical talents, and who thinks Craig’s dedication to his students is a waste of time.

Stenberg was to play a spunky, fearless and smart 8th grader, desperate to learn to sing despite the fact that she can’t, with Craig’s character reluctant to teach her.

As I noted previously, when this project was first announced, the lead role in a comedy series on a major network would obviously be a good look for Robinson, but several hurdles still had to be jumped over before it actually would get picked up to series; scripts to be written, a pilot to be shot that NBC has to love, etc.

It looks like they may not have fallen deep in love with the pilot, or maybe they just couldn’t fit it in next for next season, but are clearly still interested in keeping it alive.